Swedish election: the vote is held in a wave of anti-immigration


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People pass election campaign posters in Stockholm on September 7

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Reuters

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Immigration and asylum have been major problems in the countryside

Swedish voters must vote in a general election dominated by the rise of an anti-immigration party.

Sweden's Nationalist Democrats (SD), which polls say have 20% support, are being short-listed for second place, eight years after they entered parliament.

Neither the ruling Social Democrats nor the main center-right party are likely to win the majority.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven accused the SD of extremism and said his vote was "dangerous".

Immigration has been a central issue of the campaign. The SD doubled its seats in the 2014 elections and is expected to double them again in this election.

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Reuters

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Prime Minister Stefan Löfven is committed to fighting "extremism"

"Dark forces are mobilizing in Sweden," Löfven said at his last rally on Saturday. "The hate forces are now mobilizing in Sweden and shaking people against each other."

Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the SD, replied that Sweden had been "an extreme country in many respects, especially in immigration" and that its plan to absorb fewer migrants would be considered "a normal policy in the rest". from Europe".

Who are the Swedish Democrats?

SD has been linked for years to neo-Nazis and other far-right groups, only entering Parliament in 2010.

He worked to redefine himself, changing his logo from a flaming torch (similar to that used by the far-right British National Front) into a blue and yellow daisy, in the colors of the Swedish flag.

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EPA

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Jimmie Åkesson, Swedish Democrats, after the heated debate of party leader Friday

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Traditionally attractive to workers, it wants to attract more women and high-income voters.

Mr Åkesson, who became leader in 2005, says there is no tolerance for racism in the party and many members have been expelled.

However, the party has always been involved in various racist scandals.

A municipal candidate shared a song on Facebook with the words "The Swedes are white and the country is ours", according to an article in the tabloid Aftonbladet.

Last year, some of its ex-members continued to create the far right alternative for Sweden (AfS).

What are the key issues?

The Swedish economy is booming but many voters fear that the wave of immigration during the 2015 migrant crisis has put pressure on housing, health and welfare services.

That year, Sweden recorded a record number of 163,000 asylum seekers, the highest number in the EU, per capita.

Traditional Swedish parties have since hardened their tone to address integration concerns.

Many voters are also concerned about violence. The EA associates an increase in shootings with increased immigration, although official figures show no correlation.

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The SD also wants to leave the European Union and has proposed a referendum "Swexit". However, the powerful centrist parties are all opposed to such a vote, so it is unlikely that it will continue.

In addition to immigration, Swedes are very concerned about climate change, especially after a long, hot summer and severe forest fires.

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During the heat wave, about 25,000 hectares of forest burned in fires and many farmers were forced to destroy livestock after their pastures dried up.

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Support for the Green Party, which had struggled after various internal scandals, spread throughout the country.

The leftist party is also making progress, be it environmentally friendly voters or center-left voters, dissatisfied with the party's approach to migration.

Who could be in charge?

Prime Minister Lofven is currently leading a minority center-left coalition government of his Social Democrats and the Green Party.

In recent years, support for the Social Democrats and the largest traditional opposition party, the center-right moderates, has declined.

However, polls suggest that Social Democrats have a limited lead over other parties and may be able to lead another minority government.

The Social Democrats and the moderates both said that they would not be part of a coalition with the SD, even if their performances are good.

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